Are you ready Ocean Shores? Our kickoff to summer is right around the corner. Time to get the yards mowed, the porches swept and the flags flying. Memorial Day Weekend is here.

When you live in Ocean Shores year-round, the first weekend of summer is when all the friends and relatives begin to visit. They come out of the woodwork about this time of the year. Staying in our guest rooms, bringing the motorhomes to park in the yard. For most of us it’s one of the reasons we love living here. To share a place where family and friends can gather. Never mind they don’t come calling as often in November or February (well, unless there is a clam tide, but that’s a whole other article) when the sun comes out, so do the visitors.

And Memorial Day is a great weekend in Ocean Shores to officially kick off the summer. There are so many choices of activities and events and of course always the beach to visit.

At the Ocean Shores Convention Center at 120 W Chance a La Mer NW, the first festival of the summer offers three days of fun and festivities. The 10th Annual Grays Harbor Home Show &Expo is a multifaceted event that consists of the Original Grays Harbor Home Show, Oceans of Fine Arts, Roadside Chainsaw Carving Competition on wood and ice, hotrod and classic car show, music, vendors and much more. The Ocean Shores VFW will lead this year’s Memorial Service on Saturday May 27 at noon inside the Convention Center. What a great opportunity to commemorate a friend or family member.

Oyhut Bay Seaside Village will be hosting Shawn Beebe on Friday night from 6-8 in the newly opened Loft Martini and Wine Bar and featuring Cardinal Affinity on Saturday and Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. The Oyhut Bay Bistro will offer Breakfast service on Monday morning for those lingering a bit longer before getting back to the work week.

Memorial Day Weekend is also the kickoff to garage sale season. Here are a few to visit as you make your way through town.

Saturday the 27th beginning at 8 a.m., the Ocean Shores Elks will host a garage sale. You can rent a space for just $10 to sell your stuff. Located at 199 Ocean Lake Way SW. Call (360) 289-2581 for more information.

There will be a joint effort between the Coastal Interpretive Center and our local VFW Post 8956 to have a garage sale on the weekend of Memorial Day. The sale a will take place at 953 Trent CT. SE: (360) 591-7595

Be sure to stop in the Ocean Shores IGA early this week and get your BBQ supplies before you get caught needing a last-minute item and waiting in a long line over the weekend.

So, get the flags flying, scrub off the grill, dig the red white and blue outfits out of the back of the closet. You’re going to get 4 chances to wear that wacky patriotic hat soon, with Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day coming soon “On the Beach.”